Snap-hook



(No Model.)

J. A. PARK.

SNAP HOOK.

No. 435,247. Patented m. 1890.

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JAMES A. PARK, or LANSING, MICHIGAN.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,247, dated August 26, 1890.

Application filed September 11, 1889. Serial No. 323,584. (No model.)

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A PARK, of th city of Lansing, county of Ingham, and State of Michigan, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention belongs to that class of snapand the hook-frame, whereby great strength is attained.

Another object is to so construct the parts as to secure the maximum breadth of hinge between the tongue and hook-frame and thereby prevent the displacement of the tongue, which is usually incident to hooks of this class.

Another object is to provide in a hook or other fastening a convenient means of securing it to a strap without the aid of sewing or without the use of tools of any kind.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my snaphook adapted to be fastened to a strap in the ordinary way. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame of the hook detached. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to what is shown in Fig. 1 with the part L added. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the frame of the hook as shown in Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3 with the part N added. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frame as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detached view of the tongue, and Fig. 8 a detached view of the springwhich actuates the tongue.

Referring to the letters on the drawings, A indicates the frame of the hook, which in its lowest elements consists of the hook part at its forward end and a-bar at its opposite end, a loophole being provided between thehook and the pivot-bar for passing the strap around the hinge of which the pivot-bar forms a part.

B indicates the tongue, which is pivotally connected to the pivot-bar of the frame A. The tongue is also provided with a loop corresponding to that in the frame, so that the strap may be passed entirely through the two and around the hinge which unites them and form a very strong and durable pivot be tween them. Bythis meansa thin tube may be passed around the parts of the hinge to secure them together, or even that protection may be dispensed with and the pivot be formed by the strap alone.

In the drawings I show a preferable form of hinge,which consists of a semi-cylindrical bar D upon the frame, adapted to receive the pivot-bar E of the tongue. These are secured together by the split tube F, which is separated longitudinally, so as to be forced around the two parts when placed in position, and is then to be pressed together at the edges to complete the hinge. I do not, however, confine myself to this form of hinge. Any other suitable connection-such, for instance, as forming the semi-cylindrical part upon the tongue, instead of the frame, and uniting them, as indicated above-might be employed.

As will be observed from the drawings, the bar D is located in the rear of the loop-hole through which the strap is passed. By this means I am able to couple the parts of the snap-hook in much shorter compass than has heretofore been possible where the part to which the tongue was pivoted was located in front of the loop through which the strap was passed. By so doing I secure great rigidity and durability of the parts. The tongue consists, substantially, of a triangular or stirrupshaped metallic piece provided at one end with a pivot-bar E and at the other with a thumb-piece G and nose H. Upon the under side of the thumb-piece is provided a guidepin I, which works in the slot J of the frame and serves to prevent lateral motion of the tongue and to keep the spring K, which surrounds it, in position. The spring K has its seat at one end upon the frame and at the other upon the thumb-piece and tends to keep the parts separated and to press the nose H against the end of the hook. This stirrupshaped tongue is a prominent part of my invention and aids me to a considerable degree to secure the firmness and strength which are valuable features of it. By using it I am able to shorten the length of the hook without diminishing the size of the spring and impair ing its utility. I obtain a convenient location for a broad thumb-piece, whereby the hook may be readily fastened and unfastened, and I also secure considerable vertical play for the tongue, so as to adapt the hook to take in any ordinary size of ring. The broad hinge which I am able by this means to secure holds the tongue in position and prevents its nose from slipping past the end of the hook and allowing it to become unfastened. 7 By placing the hinge at the rear end of the hook-frame and passing the strap around it I unite the tongue and the frame very closely together and render it practically impossible in ordinary use to disturb the relation of the parts or prevent the proper action of the tongue. I am also able to place the spring in plain view, so that it can be readily inspected and cleaned, if need be.

The foregoing is a description of. the hook, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, which is adapted to be used, as therein shown, by pass ing the strap around the hinge and securing it in place by sewing in the usual manner.

In Fig. 4 is shown my hook with one bar L and a single rear loop M added to it. This loop serves to hold the end of the strap fiat and to keep the hook in line with the strap.

7 In using the snap-hook with this loop it is also necessary to sew or otherwise fasten the end of the strap down in the ordinary way. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, in addition to the bar L, are provided a bar N and loop 0. From the middle of the bar N projects a buckle-stud P. In use the end of the strap is passed through the loops 0 and M around the hinge O and then back through the loop 0, and is secured to the buckle-stud P vby passing it through a hole therein pro-. vided for it. After the strap has been put in position, as described, the slack maybe taken up and a compact fastening will have been effected.

This device just described for-con veniently securing the hook to a strap is applicable to to the stud P, substantially as described.

many kinds of fastenings, and in some cases the part D may only need to be a bar around which the bend of the strap is passed.

What I claim is-'- 1. A snap-hook consisting of a frame provided with the bar D, the tongue provided with the pivot-bar E at one end, adapted to be hinged to the bar D, both the frame and tongue being provided with loop-holes in front of the bars D and E, respectively, whereby the strap may be passed through the rear of the frame andthe tongue and around the hinge of the hook, and a spring between the tongue and frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a snap-hook, the combination,with its frame provided with a loop-and with the bar D in the rear of the loop, ofa stirrup-shaped 6o tongue hinged thereto, whereby the strap to which the hook is attached may be passedaround the hinge through the loop of the tongue and the frame, and a spring between the tongue and the frame to actuate the tongue, substantially as set'forth.

3. In a snap-hook, the combination, with the frame provided'wi'th the loop and the part D, of a spring-actuated stirrup-shaped tongue hinged thereto and a guide-pin .uponthe tongue adapted to reciprocate within the frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a snap-hook, the combination, with its frame provided with a loop, of a stirrup! shaped tongue hinged thereto, loopsM and O, 7;

and buckle-stud P, whereby the strap to which the hook is attached may be passed through the loop and the tongue around the hinge, through the loops Maud O, and be secured In testimony of an which I have hereunto. subscribed my name.

JAMES A. PARK. Witnesses.

J. EDWARD ROE, FRANK WELLS. 

